Celebrating with a Wayne Morse Scholar

Fracking:  Oregon currently has no regulations regarding hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and no requirement for companies to disclose the chemicals they are using.  House Bill 3415-A requires the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries and the Department of Environmental Quality to review Oregon's laws regarding fracking; that will prepare us for future regulation.  We are hearing from people who are unhappy that this bill does not go far enough to prevent fracking from happening in Oregon.  The original intent of the bill was a 10 year moratorium on fracking, but without sufficient political support, the choice is now whether to do something, or do nothing. I believe we should do something, to ensure that water quality and chemical disclosure regulations are reviewed and updated to reflect new practices.

Microbeads:  I'm phasing out my microbead face wash in favor of using natural alternatives - like ground fruit seeds and nuts!  The House has recently passed House Bill 3478-A which phases in a prohibition on the manufacture and sale of products containing synthetic plastic microbeads.  While microbeads might seem like a micro-problem, these tiny plastic beads are having a macro-impact on the environment.  Once these millions of small beads wash down drains they can absorb toxins, bypass sewer and water treatment filters due to their minuscule size, and harm fish and wildlife when they end up in streams and rivers.  This bill is currently being considered by the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.  Let's say goodbye to these tiny little toxins.  Fact sheet from NCEL.

Overuse of antibiotics.  The overuse of antibiotics when not medically necessary has led to a dangerous situation with drug-resistant bugs that are hard to fight.  I supported House Bill 2598 which would have prohibited administering antibiotics to livestock for non-medically necessary reasons.  It didn't move forward this session, but another bill with the same objective is still possible. Senate Bill 920-A has been moved to the Senate Committee on Rules.  This is important legislation to help protect the health of everyone who is eating meat or drinking milk from livestock that has been subject to the overuse of antibiotics.  We need to protect the efficacy of life saving antibiotics, and this bill is an important first step.  

Aerial spraying of pesticides.  My office has been closely tracking the status of multiple bills introduced this session targeted at the practice of aerial pesticide spraying.  Senate Bill 613 would have required notice when any aerial spraying of pesticides occurs on private forestland and allowed the Oregon Health Authority to investigate suspected cases of pesticide poisoning. It didn't pass out of committee by the session deadline.  House Bill 3549, however, may still be possible. It requires the Department of Forestry to collect and analyze information on the sufficiency of Oregon's existing legal requirements related to this practice.  It would be a step in protecting people and land in close proximity to forest land that is being sprayed.

Two of my best bills that passed the House are facing some corporate opposition in the Senate; I'm pressing hard to get them past these hurdles.

Toughening up Oregon's public contracts. HB 2375 will require state agencies to start with standard forms and templates approved by experts in contracts and law, and require training for anyone who manages contracts, to ensure we're getting what we pay for.

Helping college students: HB 2832 will place tighter controls on fees and other conditions of student debit cards, and require schools to make public the content of those contracts with third party financial firms.

Justice: We've spent hundreds of hours over the last year working on this one.  What if I told you that a municipal or county justice court judge can try criminal cases, and put someone in jail, but doesn't need to have a law degree, or even a single course in the law? And that a local judge can refuse to let a defendant or prosecutor make a recording of what goes on court? My bill will raise the bar for local Oregon courts, and ensure a minimum standard of access to justice throughout the state. HB 3399 passed the House; it's still in the Senate.

Passed and waiting for Gov. Brown's signature:

The CARE Act: The Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable Act requires hospitals to identify family caregivers and provide them with a demonstration of the care their loved one needs when they return  home.  HB 3378 mirrors legislation promoted by AARP in other states.

Improving passenger train service: HB 3401 directs ODOT to study operational and infrastructure improvements to improve on-time performance, such as parallel tracks, sidings, switches, and separated grade crossings, and to improve schedules and take other steps to increase ridership.

Protecting Tenant-Owners in Manufactured Home Parks: (reported in March enews)

Streamlining bureaucracy and helping people who need help: HB 2219 aims to consolidate multiple application processes into a single form when applying for assistance with housing, food, health care, winter heating, and other safety net services.  A work group of human service agencies will work on it. Oregonians shouldn't spend hours filling out repetitive applications for multiple programs, and agencies shouldn't spend hours doing duplicate work reviewing applications with the same information.

Already signed by Governor Brown:

More cutting red tape: HB 2231 streamlines credentialing processes for mental health and chemical dependency treatment providers to reduce time and money spent on redundant administrative processes, redirecting their resources to helping kids and families.

Helping Runaway and Homeless Youth: HB 2232 will coordinate statewide planning for delivery of services to runaway and homeless youth and their families.